Bill Brancaccio

Did you know about 50 percent of Americans do not have life insurance? Part of the problem is a lack of clarity: 31 percent of people who need it but aren’t covered say it’s because they don’t know what to get. But it doesn’t have to be complicated. In the simplest terms, life insurance is …

What You Need to Know about Life Insurance Read More »

Communicating about money with your significant other can be healthy for your relationship. When it comes to money and relationships, couples need to have the same financial values. Having conversations about money and dealing with money issues versus avoiding them is an essential step in meeting the financial goals that you have as a couple. …

Why Discuss Money with Your Partner? Read More »

When it comes to financial bad habits, the most common are also well known — don’t spend too much, don’t take on unsustainable debt, and avoid living paycheck to paycheck. But what happens once you’ve implemented this advice and still aren’t getting ahead? Here are five overlooked financial bad habits that could be draining your …

5 Financial Bad Habits to Cut this Year Read More »

If you have trouble keeping your New Year’s resolutions, you may benefit from taking a more scientific approach. In the late 1970s, researchers studying the experiences of smokers to learn why some were able to quit on their own and others needed further treatment found that people move through varying degrees of readiness when changing …

Understand the Stages of Change to Make Your Resolutions Stick Read More »

For many, retirement is the phase of life to kick back, relax, and enjoy the fruits of years of working and saving. However, financial decisions before and during retirement can significantly influence our quality of life and tax liability. Therefore, employing tax-smart retirement withdrawal strategies may help you maximize your retirement nest egg. Here are …

A Beginner’s Guide to Tax-Smart Retirement Withdrawal Strategies Read More »

Many parents may find it uncomfortable, or even believe it is unnecessary, to inform their children about personal finance matters. Yet, communicating openly with your family members can help to reassure them about your financial and health care wishes. This may also ease the decision-making process for your family in many important areas. As time …

Tips for Talking to Your Kids About Your Finances Read More »

You made it through law school, you passed the bar exam and now you are an attorney. You were lucky enough to have had help through scholarships or from family to pay for school, and you may still have student loans to pay off. You are a grinder in big law, working tirelessly as an …

Are you Financially Ready to Become a Law Firm Partner? Read More »

Ah, Money. The word leaves you with a positive or a negative feeling when you hear it. The feeling we get from money, and investing, has deep roots inside our emotions, although we may not understand why. Behavioral science explains why we make our investment decisions and how we emotionally react to them. Behavioral science …

How Emotional and Behavioral Barriers May Impact Your Investing Decisions Read More »

Getting laid off can be a very difficult and emotional experience, especially if you have been with the company for a long time. However, it is important to remember that there are ways to make the most out of this situation, especially if your company is offering a severance package. A severance package is a …

Let Go From Your Job With a Severance Package Read More »

As you enter the workforce and start to earn a regular income, it’s easy to get carried away with newfound financial freedom. However, this can often lead to costly money mistakes that can have long-lasting consequences. Here are some common money mistakes that young professionals often commit. Overspending and Living Beyond Means One of the …

Money Mistakes that Young Professionals Make Read More »